Meth found hidden in picture frames sent to Pittsburgh store from Mexico

PITTSBURGH – Customs officers say they found a kilogram of methamphetamine hidden in two large picture frames of religious artwork. The frames were delivered to a Pittsburgh store from Mexico.

Federal court documents unsealed Friday say that customs officials intercepted the package at a shipping facility in Memphis last week and discovered the frames were hollow and contained long black packages filled with white powder.

A Pennsylvania state police trooper working undercover as a parcel delivery man allowed the Pittsburgh store owner to sign for the package. Court documents say another man picked it up about four hours later.

That man was arrested. Carmel Rojas-Perez is being held without bail on a drug smuggling charge. His federal public defender declined comment.